If you are thinking of an application to read medicine, then you really do need to attend a pre-med course. There are a couple of schools of medicine which do not require them, but these are very much the exception rather than the norm. They also are key to getting work experience.
The pre-med scheme at the Royal Berkshire hospital is described below. If you have any questions about this, then please do come and see either myself, Mr Hand or Ms Vignali.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital has for a long time provided opportunities for sixth formers to visit the hospital and get an idea of whether or not they wish to pursue a career in medicine.
Having run a very successful course over the past three years, we are again running a pre-UCAS course on Wednesday 16th July 2014, which will give potential applicants a flavour of medicine as a career, advice regarding their university medical school applications, including sessions on writing successful personal statements and interview technique and an opportunity to hear from both junior and senior doctors about what it is like to work in their various specialties. There will be presentations from both pre-clinical and clinical medical students. It will also allow us to complete the necessary legal and health formalities which are a requirement for their subsequent clinical experience in the hospital.
The course will be open to year 11 and 12 but preference will be given to those in year 12. Applicants will only be considered with a suitable reference provided by either the head teacher, or head of sixth form. In addition we require a list of GCSE grades or predicted grades. Places on the course are highly sought after and only those with a genuine interest in a career in medicine will be considered. Please note that this course is not suitable for students wishing to study nursing, midwifery or other allied health professions.
At the end of the course students will be given a Certificate of Attendance and a list of consultants in the hospital that they can approach to arrange more informal clinical visits as they wish and as their individual time allows. We hope this combination of a teaching day and informal visits will be the best way to maximize the opportunity for them.
We will be making a £60 charge to cover the administrative and catering costs. We hope that this will not put off any serious applicant, but if you are aware of financial circumstances in a family where this may prove difficult or discourage an individual, perhaps you would be kind enough to let us know at the time of your supporting letter.
It may be that demand will probably out strip our ability to supply the perfect experience for everyone and we will be offering places on a first come first served basis, however we do follow a strict criteria for entrance. Because of the necessary safety checks, we will not be allowing ad hoc clinical visits from those who have not been able to get a Certificate of Attendance.
Mr Kydd.
Please follow this link – http://heathensixthform.co.uk/2015/02/24/nhs-careers-day/
This is what they are now offering.